Eintracht Frankfurt meet Rangers at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville, Spain, in the Final of 2021-22 UEFA Europa League.
Victory would see Eintracht Frankfurt clinch their third European title and first since winning 1979-80 UEFA Cup, whereas Rangers are chasing their second European title 50 years after winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Team News
Evan Ndicka is a doubt for Eintracht Frankfurt as he looks to return after recovering from a muscle injury.
Jesper Lindstrøm (hamstring) is another doubt but Diant Ramaj (knee), Danny da Costa (groin) and Martin Hinteregger (hamstring) remain absent.
Rangers could welcome Kemar Roofe back from a knee injury, which has kept the striker out of their last seven matches in all competitions.
Alfredo Morelos (thigh), Filip Helander (foot) and Nnamdi Ofoborh (illness) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Eintracht Frankfurt have won each of their two previous meetings against Rangers (W2), prevailing 12-4 on aggregate in semi-finals of 1959-60 European Cup.
- Rangers are meeting Eintracht Frankfurt on neutral soil for the first time in all UEFA competitions but lost their only previous ‘away’ clash 6-1 in April 1960.
- Frankfurt have kept just one clean sheet in four meetings against Scottish opposition across all UEFA competitions – winning 1-0 at home to Aberdeen in First Round of 1979-80 UEFA Cup.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have scored just once in each of their three knockout matches in which they played as the ‘home’ team.
- Rangers have lost each of their last two matches in which they played as the ‘away’ team by 1-0 results.
Prediction
Having stunned Barcelona and West Ham in their last two knockout rounds, Eintracht Frankfurt have certainly proven a difficult team to beat given because they’ve been clinical yet are organised with strong attacking creativity on their flanks.
Rangers meanwhile can be defensive-minded and opt to play on the counter-attack depending on opposition, which could certainly frustrate Frankfurt if the Gers are organised with defensive discipline but clinical up front with their false-nine formation.
On that note, this certainly could be a physical contest if Rangers opt to sit deep and counter Frankfurt, who will need their flanks to be at their best in order to carve open Rangers’ defence otherwise frustrations could set in the longer Frankfurt fail to break down their opponents and the score stays goalless.
I though am struggling to see Frankfurt not winning this because after beating Barcelona and West Ham in the manner that they did, this is surely their title to lose after investing their priorities into this competition rather than domestic competitions.
Prediction: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Rangers
Result: Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 (AET) Rangers (Eintracht Frankfurt win 5-4 on penalties!!)
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